My name is Rosa, but people call me Rosy. I was born in rural Guatemala, the youngest of six children.
At the age of seven, I was sponsored through ChildFund. It was at this time that I started attending primary school.
When I was 16, I was supposed to start going to secondary school. But it was a really hard time because my father did not allow me to study – he said that girls have to stay at home doing chores and have to get married to serve their husbands.
Transportation was also a problem. There were no buses, and school was so far away from my home, so the only option to continue studying was to move to another state. Too much for my overprotective parents!
I thought my education was over.
But ChildFund stepped in. I was offered a scholarship and staff from ChildFund Guatemala helped me convince my parents to let me study. After long talks, my parents agreed and I went to live with one of my relatives who offered me a bedroom and enough food.
I was able to finish college. I became the first girl to graduate as a teacher in my community.
A few years later, ChildFund Guatemala’s local partner in my community asked if I would be interested in working with them – I jumped at the chance. It was like a dream!
I have now been working here for 17 years. Currently I am working as a technician on ChildFund`s project ‘Let Me Tell You’, which is helping to improve children’s literacy, self-expression and research skills.
ChildFund has been working for 75 years in the world, and working here means a lot to me. Serving the new generation is awesome!
When I was sponsored, I received so much love, and it changed my attitude. Now I am returning all of these gifts to my children in the communities. I like to see how children are changing their attitudes and aspirations, by reminding them that dreams can come true with perseverance and effort.
I am now 41, and I have two children – Andrea Isabel and Julio Fernando, 5 and 12 years old (pictured above).
My two children are my inspiration, and I love and am really proud of my parents. I have a family that always supported me and a job that I love! What else could I ask for?
Chucho started life with many challenges, growing up in an impoverished community in Michoacan, Mexico. His father died when he was only two, and his mother passed away from cancer when he was 11. Fortunately, his aunt took him in and he also became more engaged with ChildFund programs.
Today, Chucho, whose given name is Jesa, is 21 years old. He is a dance instructor, gives workshops on environmental education, studies marketing at college and volunteers for environmental causes.
Chucho began his affiliation with ChildFund Mexico at the age of 6. He started by being involved in skills development programs, and as he grew older, he participated in sporting events, celebrations, reading programs and after-school tutoring.
As time passed, Chucho realised that he was changing on the inside. He was less introverted, he was able to speak in public without embarrassment and he felt more confident.
In high school, he began practising public speaking, participating in competitions and winning first place several times. “What I wanted the most was to show my family that every effort has good results,” he says. Chucho also discovered his passion for dancing.
But life was still complicated, because he had no money to continue studying. At the age of 14 he decided to start working as a teacher`s aide in his community.
“I worked very hard in order to convince the children to participate in various competitions, to organise contests with other schools, and they always won something,” Chucho says. “I wanted to share with them one of the most important things I had learned in ChildFund Mexico €“ that everything is possible if you work hard for it.”
At the age of 15, Chucho received recognition from his community as the top teacher’s aide. His ChildFund sponsor, who still supports him today, expressed her pride in him too.
Then one day, Chucho was asked to become the youth leader of ChildFund`s local partner organisation, Valle Verde, in his community. He accepted without hesitation and began to organise all kinds of events, recognising that young people need support and motivation.
In 2012, Chucho received the Youth Merit Award of Michoacán. This is an award given to young people who are great leaders in different fields. He received the award from the governor of Michoacán, and Chucho was on the radio and television news.
“All the things I have done and what I am today is thanks to ChildFund Mexico,” he says. “They taught me so many things, and they took care of me when my parents died. They are my family. Now I want to continue working with young people so we can improve our community together.”
